Progress of the work: March 2005

As part of the Galleries Project, we are examining the way that
the Egyptian coffins were constructed by x-raying them.

The Hamilton Kerr Institute (part of the Museum,
which specialises in conserving paintings) has kindly lent us
their portable x-ray equipment which has been set up in our
basement.

Here you can see the cartonnage case of Nakhtefmut being set up
for an x-ray of the head section.

From the back you can see more how this works.

Behind Nakhtefmut's head is a vacuum device, developed specially
for this purpose at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, which holds the
container for the photographic film. The actual head of the x-ray
machine is in front of the face of the cartonnage case.

The x-raying control panel has been placed in another part of the
basement.

The process of x-radiography
exposes the object to x-rays which are high-energy
electromagnetic waves. The object will absorb some of the rays,
but others will pass through the object and be recorded on the
photographic film on the other side. The amount of radiation that
passes through the object is affected by the different materials
from which it is made; for example, some materials block the
x-rays from passing through (these are said to be dense
materials) and these show up as whiter parts of the final image.

The picture at the left shows an x-ray image of the head of
Nakhtefmut's cartonnage case.

As we progress further with this work, we should be able to tell
much more than we knew before about how the coffins in the museum
were made. We are
already able to see some of the old repairs that have been made
to strengthen them in the past. This will be extremely useful
information when we are conserving the objects before they go
out on display in the new cases.

The back of Nakhtefmut's cartonnage case
was opened up by the excavator, J.E. Quibell, perhaps by sawing
it open,
so that the mummy could be removed. Quibell describes the mummy as
being 'soaked in bitumen, which had become much harder than the
bones.' Unfortunately, there is no record of what happened to it.

The opening in the cartonnage has been closed up again at some
time
and filled with the very white plaster which is different
to the white background of the decoration. This may acount for
the white area in the centre of the x-ray above.

Back at the prototype case, various options for different fabric
colours are being tried for the interior of the cases. It is
difficult to find a colour which will enhance the display of the
very varied materials and colours of objects from ancient Egypt.

We are also experimenting with the lighting in the case to make
sure that we can enable the objects in its centre to be lit properly
whilst still having sufficient lighting at the sides of the case.

Meanwhile, some of the freestanding statues are being prepared
so that they can stand on new plinths. This means that a specially
made base is required for each one which will exactly fit the bottom
of the statue. Our technicians, Bob Bourne and Louise Jenkins, who
are experts at this, are taking care of this part of the project.

The picture shows a packing chest in which one of the statues is
resting upside down, so that the bottom of the statue is upmost to
allow its special base to be prepared. The statue cannot be seen
and Louise has covered the protruding stone with a layer of foil
and tape to protect it.
Click here to read more about how
the bases are being made.